p7811fx ac adapter

I've had my 7811 fx for around 3 weeks now, and within a handful of days, the ac adapter started making noise when hot and eventually went bad.

Now I'm known for 3-4 hour gaming sessions that my thinkpad t-61p and macbook pro handle without issue.

I've received a new ac adapter free of charge from gateway, but it is exhibiting the same behavior the other one did before it went bad (noise and very hot to the touch)

I've gone ahead and ordered the targus 180w adapter.

I've got no other issues with the laptop. No lockups, no updates beyond windows update, warhammer runs flawless turned all the way up.

 

Does anyone know if this will work?

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Lightweight-Notebook-Laptops-33196/dp/B0006IWLZ8

 

I looked up that model on Kensington's website and there's no listing for the 7811 for compatible notebook models.

http://us.kensington.com/html/6330.html

http://us.kensington.com/compApp/ktgUSPower.jsp?siteId=2&pageId=9162

Perhaps you can give them a ring on their online store rep:

http://www.buykensington.com/service.asp?section=11

 

Don't mess around - get the Targus 180W adapter.

mhessick: Go to Best Buy and request a new AC adapter under your warranty - or if you didn't buy their warranty, contact Gateway. NEVER let an issue just "slide," always document and ALWAYS ask for replacements. If additional problems befall you, you want your name in the database and your machine documented as having problems once before. Gateway needs to learn that they have to bundle better adapters with these things, and people just saying "meh, I'll buy the Targus" doesn't teach them anything other than their customers don't take advantage of their warranty.

 

Yeah i've done that, don't worry.. I'm doing my best to ensure Gateway knows there is a problem. The problem only seems to occur when gaming for longer than an hour.

I wasted a long time with a gateway rep for a second time trying to get him to pay for the targus adapter. I did ask that he document it and I have the chat log from the session.

While I doubt they will actually break down, he offered to send me another adapter (even though my second one is still working)

 

Be sure to use a power conditioner where you plug your laptop in, too. If your power supply is unsteady, that could wipe out any number of electronic components.

 

I have had the same issue. this is a gaming laptop, right? No other issues, but if the power supply won't allow you to game..... That is why we all bought this, right? Anyhow, mine burned up the same way after about a month and a half. I went and bought a Kensington at Best Buy for 149.99 that they assured me would work, and it ate it up in about 15 minutes of gaming. It failed in the same manner, with the surging noises, but this time my screen was half-flashing in time with the surging noises. I shut down quickly and returned the Kensington that Best Buy assured me would work. I am now running on a Targus APA63 that I also bought at Best Buy, but haven't tried gaming on it yet. Just using it for normal stuff to test it out while waiting for my replacement from Gateway. Business shipping day number 8 was friday and they say 5-7 business days. Hopefully see it by monday. I willl let you know if the Targus works (i fully expect it to burn up too).

 

I don't see why a Kensington or other generic 120W adapter wouldn't work if the specs are basically the same as the OEM adapter. Circuit City has the Kensington for $60 (thanksgiving sale)-- so I'll find out if it works soon enough, I guess.

Also, I don't understand why people are having any issues gaming with their OEM adapter. I done long hours of gaming on my 7811 and the adapter does fine. Unlike the side of the computer, it really doesn't get that hot. Maybe I was lucky and got a good unit.

Is it possible to have a bad computer that causes (multiple) power supplies to fail?

 

I told you that I would be checking back in. The holidays had me busy. The Targus adapter which the techs at Best Buy assured me would hold up did not....but should have. Fried upon first use. I sent my laptop into gateway for service and they had to replace the mobo in it. Apparently there was a problem at the connection between the mobo and video card. Probably the inherent problem with this issue. I have the laptop back now, but had issues with it rebuilding vista....twice! because of some strange error. Also would not charge to 100% at first. Seems good now, but just a few minutes ago i noticed that the new psu they gave me with it is making a quite hissing sound. Does anyone know if this is normal for the psu to make a soft hissing noise while running the laptop? I haven't noticed it before, and haven't ever noticed it on any other laptop I have owned.... Will check back again to make sure. On a side note; my second gaming session was for about 1.5 hrs playing COD4 and the puter locked up/crashed which hadn't happened even before service. Think I just had an overheat so I am making sure I am using a chillpad for it now and haven't had that issue even on much longer gaming sessions.
Oh and ftlum....hopefully you did get lucky Will be checking back...
Oh and gateway's "5-7 business day" replacement on my psu was about a month by the way, so now I have two new psus because I got it about 3 days before I picked up my repaired laptop with new psu....